Here’s our guide to the eight runners for the two-mile chasing championship, which is the highlight of the second day of the Cheltenham Festival today.
The race is off at 17h30.
- Images & footage – Racecourse Media Group
Click here for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase statistics, trends, history and video replays.
- CHACUN POUR SOI
Official rating: 176 Odds: 9/2
A six-time Grade One winner in Ireland, Chacun Pour Soi is undoubtedly one of the leading contenders for this year’s contest.
He warmed up for this assignment with a facile 12-length victory in the Dublin Chase at his beloved Leopardstown, but there are concerns about his suitability for Cheltenham. He had every chance when 8/13 favourite in last year’s renewal, but faded to be third after being outstayed up the hill. He also disappointed on his only previous run in Britain when last of five in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park.
Trainer Willie Mullins says he has tinkered with Chacun Pour Soi’s training regime, suggesting that he might be a better horse when given less work. But there remain significant questions for the 10-year-old to answer, with younger rivals also waiting in the wings.
- ENERGUMENE
Official rating: 175 Odds: 7/2
Owned by Brighton Football Club Chairman Tony Bloom, Energumene looks the chief hope for Ireland. The eight-year-old was unbeaten in his first five starts over fences, which included a brace of Grade One successes at Leopardstown and Punchestown last term. He oozed class on his return to action when powering to victory in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork before taking on Shishkin in a sensational renewal of the Clarence House Chase.
Having looked the winner jumping the final fence at Ascot, he was outstayed by Shishkin on the run to the line. An excellent jumper, there is no reason why Cheltenham should not suit, but can he reverse the form with a horse in Shishkin. The latter made a number of errors that day at Ascot, yet still won?
Envoi Allen and his groom share a victorious moment (Focusonracing)
- ENVOI ALLEN
Official rating: 161 Odds: 20/1
Looked capable of going to the top after winning his his first 11 races under Rules, which included two Cheltenham Festival victories.
Formerly trained by Gordon Elliott, he fell on his debut for Henry De Bromhead when odds-on favourite for the Turners Novices’ Chase at last year’s Festival. He returned this year with a smooth victory in Graded company at Down Royal, before filling sixth in the John Durkan Memorial at Punchestown. Got the job done in a weak Grade One at Leopardstown in December and he gives the impression that two and a half-miles is his preferred trip. Things could happen too quickly for him in this event.
- FUNAMBULE SIVOLA
Official rating: 152 Odds: 20/1
Progressive chaser who finished second to Shishkin in Grade One company at Aintree last term. Second on his seasonal return in the Peterborough Chase, he comfortably landed a competitive handicap at Doncaster in January, and then posted a career-best when landing the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury last month (watch above).
Only a seven-year-old, there is clearly plenty more to come from him, but he looks an each-way contender at best.
Dan Skelton with Nube Negra, left, and Protektorat (focusonracing.com)
- NUBE NEGRA
Official rating: 168 Odds: 10/1
Bids to become the first Spanish-bred horse to win the race. His name means dark cloud in Spanish. The eight-year-old famously lowered the colours of Altior in the Desert Orchid Chase in December 2020, before going on to finish an excellent half-length second in the 2021 Champion Chase when he didn’t get the rub of the green.
He returned this season with a facile victory in the Shloer Chase over course and distance, before disappointing when fourth in the Tingle Creek at Sandown. However, Dan Skelton’s stable star clearly relishes the stiff test of stamina at Cheltenham and he looks a serious player.
Politologue won the Champion Chase two years ago (Photo: Focusonracing)
- POLITOLOGUE
Official rating: 165 Odds: 40/1
Bids to become only the second 11-year-old (Moscow Flyer was the other in 2005) this century to win the Champion Chase and the first horse since Sprinter Sacre to regain his crown, having been a brilliant nine and a half-length winner two years ago (late absentee last year when had a nosebleed).
He underwent wind surgery for the second time before finishing second to Nube Negra in the Shloer Chase and has been kept fresh for this. However, at 11 years of age, it would take a big effort for the popular grey to be involved in the finish.
- SHISHKIN
Official rating: 177 Odds: 4/7
Watch Shishkin’s highlights from last season
One of the most exciting horses in training who has won 11 of his 12 starts under Rules and is unbeaten in seven starts over fences. He cruised to a 12-length win in the Arkle last season, before going on to plunder Grade One honours at Aintree.]
The eight-year-old returned to action with a facile 10-length win in the Desert Orchid Chase, before getting the better of Energumene in a race for the ages at Ascot in the Clarence House Chase. Shishkin’s jumping lacked fluency at Ascot and his stamina won him the contest, staying on powerfully from the back of the last to record a length victory. Cheltenham will clearly play more to his strengths given the greater emphasis on stamina combined with his winning form at the track. He looks the one to beat and is fancied to provide Nicky Henderson with a record seventh win in the contest.
- PUT THE KETTLE ON
Official rating: 157 Oodds: 20/1
Became the first mare to win this event when a brilliant winner last year, but has been a shadow of her former self in three runs since. Last of five, beaten 42 lengths at Fairyhouse last time out, she will go to post with penty to prove. Her form figures at Cheltenham read 11114, so connections will no doubt be hoping a return to the Cotswolds revives her.
Shishkin can steal the show. He has carried all before him and looks set to extend his unbeaten record over fences to eight.
He did well to win the Clarence House last time out following a litany of errors and the stiffer test of stamina at Cheltenham should play into his hands.
Willie Mullins is yet to win the Champion Chase and Energumene can give his old rival the most to think about, but it is hard to see him reversing the form of their Ascot clash. Nube Negra is best of the rest. He is best when fresh and finished a cracking second in this event last term.
The selection:
1 SHISHKIN 2 ENERGUMENE 3 NUBE NEGRA
